Microsoft Adds Backward Compatibility to Xbox One

Starting this holiday season, 100 Xbox 360 games will be backwards compatible with Microsoft's Xbox One, with more to follow.

One of the most contentious points of this console generation has been backward compatibility. While Nintendo offered the ability to play Wii games on the Wii U, Sony didn't introduce such a feature while Microsoft was downright snobby about it. But now it seems Microsoft is finally changing its tune - starting this holiday season, up to 100 Xbox 360 games will be backward compatible with the Xbox One, with many more to follow.

Now there are a few caveats to consider with this information. Xbox One backward compatibility isn't hardware-based, so you can't just insert a disc and start playing. That being said, when you insert an Xbox 360 disc your console will start downloading the game - free of charge. So as long as your internet connection and hard drive can handle it, you'll be playing the games without difficulty.

The good news is that Xbox 360 digital games will transfer automatically to the Xbox One, and multiplayer will be fully supported on backwards compatible titles. An initial list of backwards compatible games is available here, and includes popular titles like Mass Effect, Super Meat Boy, and Perfect Dark. You'll have to wait until Fall 2015 for the service to launch, but I suspect this will appease a great many gamers hoping for replay classics on Xbox One.